Best Summer Reading Books for Kids in Chicago
Best Summer Reading Books for Kids in Chicago
iCode Ravenswood’s Favorite Audiobooks & Chapter Books for Curious Young Minds
Summer is one of the best times for kids to strengthen creativity, imagination, problem-solving, and critical thinking. At iCode Ravenswood, we believe great books can inspire many of the same skills kids use in STEM education, coding, robotics, and engineering.
Whether your child is relaxing between summer camps, riding in the car, or winding down after a busy day, these books may become the stories they remember long after summer ends. Even better, many of these picks are incredible as audiobooks too, making them perfect for family road trips or quiet afternoons at home.
The Iggy Series (Ages 6+) By Annie Barrows
If your child loves energy, chaos, creativity, and nonstop laughs, the Iggy books are hard to beat.
Iggy is the kind of kid who always has an idea, even if that idea occasionally leads to total disaster. Parents may laugh, cringe, and quietly admire the patience of Iggy’s family while kids often connect with his curiosity and determination.
These books are playful, funny, and surprisingly relatable for many young innovators who like testing limits and figuring things out through trial and error.
Grandpa’s Great Escape By David Walliams (Ages 7 to 12)
This adventurous story follows young Jack as he helps his WWII-pilot grandfather escape from a suspicious retirement home.
The humor, illustrations, and over-the-top characters often remind readers of classic Roald Dahl stories. Kids who enjoy imaginative adventures and fast-paced storytelling may fly through this one quickly.
It’s a wonderful choice for readers who like books that feel cinematic, funny, and heartfelt all at once.
The 39 Clues Series (Ages 8+) By Peter Lerangis
This series combines mystery, history, adventure, puzzles, and teamwork into one giant treasure hunt around the world.
Amy and Dan Cahill race to uncover secrets hidden throughout their powerful family history while solving clues and outsmarting rivals along the way.
Kids who enjoy escape rooms, Minecraft puzzles, coding challenges, or strategy games often become completely hooked on this series because every chapter feels like solving another mission.
Matilda By Roald Dahl (Ages 8 to 12)
Matilda remains one of the most beloved books for children for good reason.
Matilda is brilliant, curious, determined, and deeply misunderstood by the adults around her. Through intelligence, courage, and a little magic, she learns how to stand up for herself and others.
The audiobook version narrated by Kate Winslet is especially engaging and may keep both kids and parents entertained from beginning to end.
The Westing Game (Ages 10+) By Ellen Raskin
A mysterious millionaire leaves behind a puzzle-filled inheritance challenge involving sixteen potential heirs.
Every clue matters. Every character hides secrets. Every chapter invites readers to think critically and pay attention to details.
Kids who enjoy logic games, mysteries, strategy, and solving problems step by step often love this book because it rewards curiosity and observation.
The Parker Inheritance By Varian Johnson (Ages 8 to 12)
This modern mystery blends puzzles, hidden history, family secrets, and emotional storytelling into a book that stays with readers long after finishing it.
When Candice discovers a mysterious letter connected to her grandmother’s past, she teams up with a quiet neighbor named Brandon to solve a decades-old puzzle tied to injustice, hidden truths, and a possible fortune.
This book does an incredible job balancing suspense, teamwork, empathy, and critical thinking. Many middle school readers may especially connect with the way the characters learn to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and work together.
Why Summer Reading Matters for STEM Learners
At iCode Ravenswood, we often see that strong readers become stronger coders, engineers, designers, and problem-solvers over time.
Books help kids:
- Strengthen creativity and imagination
- Improve focus and communication skills
- Build persistence through challenges
- Practice critical thinking and pattern recognition
- Develop empathy and confidence
Many of the same skills kids use to solve mysteries in books are the same skills they use while debugging code, building robots, designing games, and creating technology projects.
And sometimes, the book that sparks curiosity this summer becomes the reason a child starts exploring bigger ideas in the future.
Looking for more ways to keep your child learning, creating, and building confidence this summer? Explore summer camps, coding classes, robotics programs, and STEM enrichment opportunities at iCode Ravenswood.
Keep Coding,
The iCode Ravenswood Team.
